Craven

Craven's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in average age, religion and health.

The population passed 55,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Craven increased by 3.3%, from just over 53,600 to 55,400.

The addition of just under 1,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Craven was home to, on average, 0.34 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it Yorkshire and The Humber's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Yorkshire and The Humber, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Craven

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Craven increased by four years, from 43 to 47 years.

This agricultural area had the highest average age in Yorkshire and The Humber and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 15% of people in Craven are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Craven by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Craven

The proportion of married people fell in Craven, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber, except Doncaster.

Every local authority area across Yorkshire and The Humber saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 47%.

During this period, Craven overtook Richmondshire to become the Yorkshire and The Humber local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 and over in Craven said they were married, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 25%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of unemployment increased in Craven, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber, except Richmondshire.

Every local authority area across Yorkshire and The Humber saw a rise in the proportion of unemployed people, as the regional average grew from 3.7% to 4.9%.

In 2011, about 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 in Craven said they were unemployed, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 51% to 52%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Craven, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber.

Every local authority area across Yorkshire and The Humber saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.7% to 11%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.7%) households in Craven had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 28% to 31%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of households that that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Craven

The number of people in Craven that described themselves as Christian increased from about 42,000 in 2001 to about 37,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 78% to 67% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (from 73% to 60%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Craven that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 7,400 in 2001 to just under 13,000 in 2011 (from 14% to 23%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 3,700 to about 4,200 (from 7.0% to 7.6%).

About 510 people (0.6%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 330 in 2001 (0.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Craven decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Craven by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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